What the U.S. Did
On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a current Justice on Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.
The move invoked the Global Magnitsky Act, freezing any U.S.-held assets and prohibiting U.S. citizens and companies from doing business with him. U.S. officials also revoked visas for Moraes and several other justices. TradingView+8CBS News+8WSLS+8WSLS+9The Washington Post+9Courthouse News+9
⚖️ Why He Was Targeted
Moraes is overseeing the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who faces charges of planning a coup after losing the 2022 election.
U.S. officials accused Moraes of censoring dissent, ordering arbitrary detentions without charges, and leading politically motivated prosecutions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called his actions an “oppressive campaign of censorship.” The Times of India+15The Washington Post+15Reuters+15
Diplomatic Fallout
The sanctions were issued as President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on key Brazilian exports like coffee and meat, explicitly linking the tariffs to Bolsonaro’s prosecution. Courthouse News+9Reuters+9Financial Times+9
Brazilian President Lula da Silva decried the action as “unacceptable interference” in Brazil’s judicial independence. Brazil’s Supreme Court issued a statement affirming it would not yield to foreign pressure. AP News+3Financial Times+3Reuters+3
U.S. Political Angle
The move aligns with a broader U.S. political alignment with Bolsonaro, who Trump views as an ideological ally.
Bolsonaros—both Jair and his son Eduardo—have praised the actions and actively lobbied the U.S. government to impose sanctions on Moraes. euronews+13CNBC+13WSLS+13
✅ Summary Table
Key Detail Explanation
Target Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes
Charges Under U.S. Law Global Magnitsky Act sanctions
Allegations Censorship, arbitrary detentions, politicized prosecutions
U.S. Actions Asset freeze, visa bans, trade tariffs tied to Brazil
Brazil’s Response Rejected sanctions, affirmed judicial sovereignty
Diplomatic Implications Heightened U.S.–Brazil tension; tests norms around interference in another country’s justice system
The U.S. has officially sanctioned a sitting Supreme Court Justice of Brazil for acting like a dictator.
Alexandre de Moraes is censoring Americans, jailing political opponents, and targeting Elon Musk.
Now Trump’s team is hitting back—hard.